A Transport Department paper to the Islands District Council Traffic and Transport Committee sets out departmental support for Baidu Apollo to run a public autonomous vehicle (AV) trial-ride experience in Tung Chung, so residents can see how AVs operate first-hand. The Committee is scheduled to discuss the arrangement at its fifth meeting on 13 October 2026 (Paper No. 36/2026).
Who can ride, and when
According to the TD paper and its annex:
- Afternoon of 20 October: Islands District Council members are invited to take a trial ride first and give feedback;
- 21 October to 3 November (14 days): public trial rides for Islands District residents;
- Reception hours: 14:00–18:00 each day.
Ride tickets will be distributed to members through the Islands District Council Secretariat for sharing with residents. The annex lists 600 tickets in total, with at most two passengers per vehicle at a time and capacity for up to 1,200 people; members will together receive 540 tickets.
Route and flow
The route starts at Yat Tung Estate Car Park No. 1, continues via Chung Yan Road, Yu Tung Road and Yi Tung Road to the Hong Kong East Tung Chung Sheraton Hotel, then returns to Yat Tung Estate Car Park No. 1. There is no intermediate drop-off; passengers must alight back at the boarding point. The loop is about 5.1 km and takes about 15 minutes.
The waiting point is at the entrance of The Salvation Army Lam Butt Chung Memorial School (near Mei Yat House). The flow covers a briefing on trial-ride points to note, guidance to the boarding point, the ride itself, an optional questionnaire and souvenir, then an orderly departure.
Safety arrangements
The annex states that an onboard backup operator will be present. Operators have on average about 10 years of driving experience and have completed no fewer than 100 hours of autonomous-driving training, monitoring the vehicle and road conditions throughout. The fleet has a 24-hour service hotline; the AVs carry qualified insurance and multiple safety systems.
Trial progress and policy context
On 10 October, the Transport Department’s Autonomous Vehicle Applications Promotion Working Group visited the North Lantau Tung Chung trial and rode autonomous private cars. A Government press release said the North Lantau project was approved in February 2026 to extend Airport Island trial routes to Tung Chung and Sunny Bay for a cross-district trial and to increase the number of AVs operating at once; from end-July, remote backup operators at a remote control centre were added alongside onboard backup operators to collect more data. The Working Group then noted that the TD and the pilot proprietor would brief the Committee on 13 October on proposed public experience events.
The paper ties the arrangement to the directions of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s first Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026–2030) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address. The TD is pushing forward unmanned and scaled autonomous driving in Hong Kong in an active and orderly way, and aiming to reach commercial operation as soon as practicable, so the public can enjoy more convenient and safer travel. The Working Group, chaired by the Commissioner for Transport, is also stepping up publicity and public education to raise awareness of autonomous driving.
Residents interested in joining should follow how District Council members and the Secretariat share ride tickets, and observe the on-site points to note for the trial.
Primary sources:
- Islands District Council Traffic and Transport Committee Paper No. 36/2026, “Tung Chung Autonomous Driving Public Trial Ride Activity” (13 October 2026), https://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/island/doc/2024_2027/tc/committee_meetings_doc/TTC/31508/TTC_2026_36_TC.pdf
- Annex, “Introduction to the Tung Chung Public Trial Ride Activity”, https://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/island/doc/2024_2027/tc/committee_meetings_doc/TTC/31508/TTC_2026_36_A1_TC.pdf
- Agenda (5th meeting), https://www.districtcouncils.gov.hk/island/doc/2024_2027/tc/committee_meetings_agenda/TTC/TTCagd13102026_TC.pdf
- Government press release, “TD’s Autonomous Vehicle Applications Promotion Working Group visits trial in Tung Chung, North Lantau”, 10 October 2026, https://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/202610/10/P2026100900583.htm
